Ducks, Beavers make all-Pac-12 first team

Tuesday

Dec 3, 2013 at 12:01 AMDec 3, 2013 at 2:40 AM

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. — University of Oregon standouts Marcus Mariota, Hroniss Grasu and Ifo Ekpre-Olomu all repeated as first-team Pac-12 Conference all-league selections and were joined on the top unit by Oregon State receiver Brandin Cooks, the conference announced Monday.

Staff reports

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. — University of Oregon standouts Marcus Mariota, Hroniss Grasu and Ifo Ekpre-Olomu all repeated as first-team Pac-12 Conference all-league selections and were joined on the top unit by Oregon State receiver Brandin Cooks, the conference announced Monday.

Mariota is the Ducks' first two-time honoree at that position since Chris Miller in 1985 and '86.

The sophomore Mariota completed 227 of 360 passes (63 percent) for 3,412 yards and 30 touchdowns, with his 3,994 yards of total offense setting a single-season school record. The mark surpassed Akili Smith's record of 3,947 yards accumulated in 1998.

The Honolulu, Hawaii, native's 2013 output also ranks second on the school's single-season passing yards list, and he's sixth in the country in passing efficiency, tied for sixth in total points responsible for (234) and ninth nationally in touchdown passes.

Ekpre-Olomu, a junior, ranks second on the team in tackles (78) and interceptions (three) after the junior cornerback posted 12 unassisted tackles and one interception in Friday's 36-35 win over Oregon State.

The junior Grasu anchored an offensive line that led the Pac-12 in rushing for the eighth year in row (278.3 yards per game) and led it in total offense (573.0) and scoring (46.8).

Cooks set the Pac-12 single-season record for receptions against Oregon on Friday. The junior Biletnikoff Award finalist now holds the conference record with 120 receptions, breaking the mark of 118 set by USC's Marqise Lee last season.

Cooks' school-record 1,670 receiving yards is 51 short of the single-season mark held by Lee. Cooks also owns school records for career touchdown receptions (23) and single-season touchdown receptions (15), which he set this season.

Also for Oregon, senior defensive lineman Taylor Hart made the second team along with junior defensive back Erick Dargan, who earned the distinction as a special teams standout.